first post of december

How sad, it's already mid-december and this is my first post of the month. So I'm in Beijing now. I won't have much to do and am with my sister, so new looks will probably be coming up soon!

fail.

So I have to really work on this whole willpower thing. Thanks to my lovely friends, I was swayed to purchase another pair of shoes. I got the boots that I mentioned previously, and have been wearing them lots - at least that's good. New looks coming up soon...I think.

dilemma

In my last post, I talked about my new boots - but I don't think I covered the slight dilemma that I had while purchasing them. I actually tried on another pair as well, and I couldn't make a decision as to whether or not I wanted to purchase them. Both pairs are relatively expensive so I decided to sit on the second pair. I still haven't come to a decision and it's been more than a week. I've been looking for a pair of flat ankle boots. These are the ones I tried on. I've gone back to look at it several times. Do they look too "manly"? Although, I think that that may be a good thing as it will be something different to add to my boot collection. Also, since I've had a bit of skirt frenzy these last few weeks I feel like something it would be awesome to have something contrast the girl-iness of my outfits. Opinions?

Back to getting work done...at a very slow pace.

reminder

If you like the outfits, go to my lookbook page and hype them - i think my hype buttons are feeling lonely.

http://lookbook.nu/user/44798-Stephanie-L

shoes

So some of my friends have mentioned to me that I haven't updated in a while. Let's blame this on a lack of equipment and motivation. While sitting at home today, waiting for something interesting to happen, I decided I should probably show off my new shoes. So here it goes...

My new shoes from Aldo - they were expensive. =( Don't mind my very scratched up apartment floor. So I decided that I had to wear them today and this is what I went to class in.

Skinny legging jeans from American Eagle, silk tanktop from Urban Outfitters, and cardigan from Gap. The tanktop is a new purchase which I was quite happy to find. A little difficult to explain, but the pattern found on the bottom of the front part of the top is on the entire back of the top. It's really pretty - I don't think my camera does either the shoes or the top justice. =(

As for updates, hopefully I'll find some motivation to put more posts up.

boots, boots and more boots

I admit it, I'm addicted. Boots just grab my attention when I step into a shoe store. In Montreal, I have 10 pairs if you include booties. Recently, the trend has been going towards over the knee boots or thigh-highs. I realised during Halloween weekend that I did in fact own a pair of over the knee boots, but I never wore them as such. They're from Chinese Laundry and for the last two years, I've simply been wearing them folded down. While the first thought about thigh-high boots may be how they might be slutty - the trend has really grown on me. Thigh-high boots may be a statement but it can be a modest one at that. As seen above from the Who What Wear Daily emails, as long as you pair over the knee boots with more modest garb, you'll have just the right amount of sexiness. I may just find myself buying a new pair of boots.

SIGH - more money going down the drain, at least I'll look good while watching it swirl down into oblivion.

fur

In the midst of procrastination (I have a paper proposal due tomorrow and so far I've written only 100 words), I was reading through some blogs. One blog that I've been following expressed their desire to own a fur coat. Fur, it seems, is popping up everywhere, whether it's real or faux. When I first saw the fur vest, my first thought was "what? really?" But over the last few months, the idea has been catching on. Now, I am contemplating the purchase of one. The reason why I'm hesitating is I have no idea when I would wear it. Perhaps I'm simply not one for taking risks or I'm very conservative but I feel like I would come off as very pretentious or plain silly walking down the streets of Montreal in a fur vest. Funnily (is that a word?) enough, I feel like if I were to be walking down the streets of New York dressed exactly the same way I wouldn't feel the same way. Should I take the leap? Be daring? Hm, I must contemplate that.

Now...off to work on that darn paper proposal.

its been a while

Well, Halloween has come and gone. I, unfortunately, didn't do much. I suppose now I regret not taking advantage of the one night where you can walk around a city dressed up (or in some cases, barely dressed) in whatever you want. On Friday, I was planning on dressing up as a grecian goddess - but I ended up opting out of a party and staying at home talking to my best friend on skype. Perhaps, one day - soon, so it won't seem like I randomly get in costumes and prance around in my apartment - I will just do it so that I can post the look up and show everybody that I do, in fact, possess some level of creativity. On Saturday, some friends and I headed to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was my first time going and I was thoroughly entertained, albeit somewhat lost and confused. Of course, going to the Rocky Horror Show meant that I should be dressing up in my sluttiest gear - that didn't happen. I made a very lame attempt in a slip that I layered over a bustier and tights believing that few were actually going to go all the way. I was wrong and completely missed my chance to walk around in just underwear. However, now that I think about it - that may have been a good thing. Perhaps I will post that look up as well. As winter is fast approaching, I'm trying to come up with pretty, pretty outfits that still keep me warm. I suppose I will have to rely a lot on my (approximate) 7 pairs of boots and lots and lots of tights and socks.

Looks coming up soon...I HOPE!

walking advertisement

After a spending more than 4 hours on a beautiful Saturday in a group meeting, I decided to treat myself. So on Sunday, I woke up with a mission. SHOPPING TRIP. Boy, was that not a good idea. I ended up buying way too much. Then I came to a realisation - stores should pay us. Sure they provide clothes, but then we walk around carrying their bags with their store name stamped all over it enticing other people to go to the store. Technically, we're paying the stores to advertise for them. The cost of those bags must be put into the clothes that we get. Is this fair? Anyway, NEW skinny jeans from American Eagle paired with NEW Forever21 lace tanktop over an Americaa Apparel black tanktop. Zara suede heels (they're so amazingly sexy with the gold stiletto), Urban Outfitters BDG cardigan, Forever21 elephant charm necklace and NEW Forever21 (fake) leather jacket. This jacket is amazing - it has a faux fur lining, perfect for keeping me warm as the weather in Montreal continues to approach freezing levels.

I have a new found obsession for lace. It's so sexy..yet so refined and ladylike at the same time.

I think another post on nail polish is going to come soon. I have to stop buying them - I just don't have enough fingers to use them all up in a lifetime. =(

I'm so tired. Running on 5hours of sleep is not good.

so many things to do

In the midst of obsessing about what to wear for the day or the next few days for that matter, I've had to worry about so many other things. Especially, my future. I feel like for everyone else they have this set, known path of what they do and yet I find merely thinking about my future, the most daunting task. But according to the plan that had been laid out for me previously, I should be leaving Montreal by the end of the year. If this is to be, there are so many things that I want to to do before saying au revoir to this place that I have, out of mere habit, started calling home. For 3 years I have managed to stay pretty close to the downtown area - but I think it's time that I started going to places that are out of my comfort zone. So new shopping areas (for me) here I come! While I often frequent St-Laurent and St-Denis, it's time to put on my walking shoes and end up on Mont-Royal and Laurier. Perhaps with all that walking, I'll be able to find a reason to stay in Montreal.

So I really enjoyed the look above. The dress and cardigan are both from Urban Outfitters, bought on separate occasions during Thanksgiving. I know, I know, I go there way too much - I also spend way too much money there, even when I realise that for the prices they charge I'm not getting much back in quality. But it's sooo pretty. The tights are, rather upsettingly, starting to tear - it was my first time wearing them after purchasing them from Winners for 6 dollars. I guess I couldn't ask for much. They were pretty when I first slipped them on, but then started realising that everytime I crossed and uncrossed my legs, I was tearing them. The boots are a few years old and are from Steve Madden. I've only just gotten to wearing them more often because I've been having problems with the snap button on the back - I have found a very awkward way of putting them on to solve this problem. I decided to minimise on the accessories because of the big pattern on the dress.

Back to work, as I have 3 presentations and a midterm coming in 2 weeks. Ah!

little motivation to do anything...except SHOP.

So...I did this look a few days ago...but couldn't be bothered to upload it - even though it only takes like 2 seconds. It consists of a tulip skirt from Brooklyn Industries, a basic black tanktop, gray cardigan from Gap, silk scarf from Urban Outfitters, boots from Ralph Lauren and gray tights from Simons (department store here in Montreal). I topped off the whole look with one of my favourite gold necklaces that I got at Le Chateau. It's a really tiny photo - simply because I suck at photo editing and used paint to put all the photos together.

Long, long weekend for me as I always have Fridays off and Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving. I spent all of yesterday completely unmotivated - but did end up making a beanie. After I got up this morning I figured I should probably go out - the sun was shining through my window and I figured I'd better not waste the nice weather. But as always I wasn't really motivated to do much...aside from shopping. I ended up getting stuff from Forever21 and Urban Outfitters. I guess a new look will be coming soon.

For now, I'll go back to staring at the clutter in my room and wishing everything would clean itself.

new look

This was my look for the day. I actually wore the flats out but was tempted to try my new boots with the outfit. They're Ralph Lauren and I love them - but they are 5 inch heels and walking around campus 2 days in a row is quite difficult. Speaking of difficult tasks - taking my own photo also proved to be a challenge. I ended up stacking a large amount of magazines, textbooks and coursepacks on top of my ottoman, then perched a tripod on top of that so that I could get the right height and angle. Even then, I simply got too tired of posing for a camera so settled for average photos. Don't ask me about the editing of the photos - my sister did it for me, so I don't quite know why they have two different qualities to them. Anyway, I slipped on a men's vintage fit shirt from American Eagle over a black slip. I belted the shirt with a black, skinny belt. I paired this with a pair of gray stockings that I got - you can't see it in the photo but I love the look of these tights, in a way they look like leggings (the material is thicker and the colour actually includes several shades of gray). With winter fast approaching, I have continued to build up my tights collection - I actually got 3 more today, strangely enough they're all gray.

I'm going to go off now and obsess about my outfit for tomorrow - but I probably won't be able to come up with anything and then find myself 5 minutes before having to go to class rushing around frantically trying to piece something together.

can't wait to get me one of these.

Is it not the cutest thing ever? I suppose when I finally settle down, a dog would be the logical next step. Can't wait.

I figured a new post was long overdue - I don't even know what I've been busy with. Here's another very awkward outfit photo taken in the Student's Society Building while waiting for a club meeting to start. Thanks to Cathy for taking the photo. =) Anyway, same Zara blazer but this time paired with a belted American Apparel t-shirt dress. Also have on a gold necklace from Forever 21 as well as a floral scarf from Urban Outfitters. Shoes from Aldo.

It's starting to get so cold here already that I have had to pull out my winter jacket as well a huge dependence on tights. Perhaps it's time to stock up on different tights - yay! another reason to shop.

I've kind of stalled on the dog sweater, but will begin working on it again soon enough. I think it was just pink overload.

Time to pretend that I'm starting to clean my apartment.

future food critic?

Perhaps I am not the most qualified to criticise a restaurant - but I have to argue that as a consumer, I should know what I'm looking for in a good meal. If I do choose to eat out then I want good service and good food. Last night I went out for dinner at Atti, a newly opened Korean restaurant near McGill. I had heard reviews about the restaurant and paired with the decorations I walked in with somewhat high standards but was disappointed when the food did finally come out. I'm not saying that the food was terrible, at least I was able to eat it, but if I'm going to be sitting there waiting for food for 15-20 minutes I would expect it to be piping hot. While the decor of the restaurant was impeccable, service was lacking - for a small-sized restaurant you would think that 3 employees would be sufficient. However, the only way you could get an employees attention was by pushing a button set at the centre of the table - Cathy pointed out that this made her feel like she was on an airplane. While the food was filling, I was not getting my money's worth when I compared it to the food I could get at Bulgogi House, found near Atwater. The Bibimbap was a disappointment, lacking in heat (my rice was pretty much cold) and flavour - forgive me if I'm incorrect, but a Bibimbap is meant to be served in a stone pot that retains heat. I got mine in a porcelain bowl, even though it was pretty, I was not impressed. When I go into a Korean restaurant, I expect Korean food. Yet everything in the restaurant seemed to taste about the same - bland and a weak attempt at Korean. We ended up mixing everything we ate with chili sauce. While the walk to Bulgogi House may be long, the outcome is far more worth it than eating at Atti, even if its location is convenient for the McGill student.

first outfit

Well, this is the first outfit I'll be putting up. I have to start getting in the habit of taking photos of what I'm wearing. I have to mention that I do look very awkward in this photo, simply because Cathy and I had just come out from studying on campus and we didn't really look for a "pretty" place to take the photo, so we acted like I was a prospective management student and ended up taking a photo outside the McGill management building.

I did finally splurge on those aviators and found myself a pretty pair of Ray-Bans. I love them and am constantly hoping for sun and thus a reason to wear them. On the topic of accessories, I'm also wearing one of the silk scarves I was raving about as well as (you can't see it)one of the many gold necklaces I bought along with an H&M bag that has lasted me throughout my university years and an American Eagle belt. Skinny jeans (Forever21), tucked in tanktop (American Apparel), cardigan (Gap), and boyfriend blazer (Zara). The flats are actually from Old Navy - they're surprisingly comfortable but unfortunately wearing out to such a degree that when it rains, water gets into my shoe through the sole. I've been on the lookout for a replacement pair but have yet to find anything remotely close in terms of a good balance between comfort and looks.

I went to return some things today at Forever21 and H&M before my study date with Cathy and her friend, Kay, and had to restrain myself from purchasing anything. GO WILLPOWER. Next thing for my willpower to work on? Perhaps exercise or eating healthy. If only it was as easy to do as typing it.

more things i'm in love with that i probably won't get to buy

I am loving the nude coloured trend this season. Mix nude tones with some grecian draping and I'm falling head over heels. Of course, I will probably never be able to afford a Donna Karan dress...but it's so SEXY. I would be so happy if I found something similar at a much more affordable price - but where would i wear it to? Ah the problem with being a student with a limited income and nowhere to go.

On a much more comical and immature note....

Meet Gucci (right) and Coco (left), two hand puppets that Cathy and I purchased from Walmart while on an excursion/adventure to an American Apparel flea market event. Unfortunately the wait was too long for us so we ended up in Walmart. Their names are symbols of our obvious love for fashion - and our inability to get any closer to designer brands.

Back to my life of living fashionably,albeit vicariously through the internet.

reminder

In celebration of a few friends' (and my own) 21st birthdays last night, we set out on Prince Arthur to have dinner. After dinner we headed back to my cozy apartment to hang-out and well, drink, in preparation for our plans to go out to a club. It is easy to say then that things quickly headed in a rather un-sober direction, at least for some people. Instead of going to a club after a game of Charade and Kings, we set out for the karaoke. Drunken singing has never been better. But this night was the night that reminded me of why I decided to live in Montreal and why I won't be able to ever move back in with my parents. The freedom and independence that I have gained through these past 3 years will never be reversed - and I think that's a good thing. Although it took a while, I'm glad I met so many people that I feel that I can act myself around. I'm glad I made the decision to come to Montreal even though I had regretted it for so long. Things are good - and it never hurt to only have to take 3 classes in a semester.

On a fashion note, I spent the entire day with Cathy, one of my closest friends here in Montreal, and we went shopping - all over downtown. Cathy and I have come to realise that we are the best shopping partners - or perhaps the worst - as we seem to encourage each other to buy so much with our similar tastes. While my wallet is considerably lighter, I have continued to further my collection of necklaces, adding 3 more to my collection. In addition to the necklaces from Forever21, I ended up with a dress and two tops from the store. Owls seem to be the stylish animal of the season. And I could not get away from the trend. I also could not avoid going into Urban Outfitters and heading immediately for the sale racks on the second-floor. I walked out with 2 tops and a silk scarf. The thing about silk scarves is that it's so versatile - especially with the right print. You can use it in a more casual outfit or in an outfit that you want to dress up, and who can resist the smooth texture of silk. Cathy and I walked for so long that by the time we returned to my apartment we were exhausted and had blisters on our feet.

In addition to the sequin and leather skirt from the last post, I'm currently hunting for aviators - summer may be coming to an end but aviators seem like a style of sunglasses that is season-less, and I WANT THEM.

No pictures this time, I'm much too tired. Perhaps when I have constructed a look from my purchases I will post a picture up. I think I will be climbing back into bed soon and staying there for the rest of the day...or not.

Have a good one.

so many new obsessions

So lately I have been going on a fashion/shopping craze. I am in love with so many things, it's really quite crazy. I am currently yearning to buy a leather skirt or a sequin skirt - both are gorgeously sexy and I am obsessed with finding the perfect one.

I am also going crazy about gold statement necklaces. In this last week I have bought four (FOUR!) of them and I am preparing my wallet for much more of this gorgeous-ness on Friday, my day of freedom from school and all cares in the world. On top of my gold rush, anything studded catches my eye. Which seems like everything these days.


On a much more creative note, I am currently knitting a baby pink - as demanded by my younger sister who just so happens to be a (surprise, surprise) pink lover - hooded sweater for my sweetie, Chere, as her Christmas present. Hopefully I won't mess it up.

=)

First post. The closest I have ever come to blogging was this thing we had back in the day, if anybody remembers: xanga. I hope to use this as a place to share all my latest obsessions whether it be with food, fashion, music or really anything else. Enjoy!